Northeastern Speedway: Photos Today

 I took some photos today for someone whose father's race car is at the track, at the Northeastern Speedway. A great day for it! To learn more about this historic gem of Waterford, Vermont, click HERE.

  

West Waterford's Post Office

Waterford holds onto its post office in Lower Waterford, which serves people across a wide area, even some in New Hampshire. In the 1800s the town had four post offices: Upper Waterford, then simply called Waterford (the location's under Moore Dam Reservoir now), Lower Waterford, Gaskill (in a house on Route 18 near Stiles Pond), and West Waterford on Duck Pond Road.

A recent response to a post on this blog started a conversation about the West Waterford one, and the person writing to us said, "It's a piece of furniture and it's in my mother's home in western Massachusetts." Of course, calling a post office a piece of furniture was wild -- but understandable, since what the correspondent meant was that her family has the sorting cupboard from the old West Waterford post office. The family descends from the Carpenter branch who hosted this post office in the past:

West Waterford [Post Office], Caledonia County, Vermont
Established on January 5, 1856
Discontinued on February 28, 1902 (mail to Saint Johnsburg) [sic]
Reestablished on April 8, 1902
Discontinued on June 30, 1905 (mail to Saint Johnsburg) [sic]

Postmasters                  Appointment Dates
                               Through June 30, 1905

Amos B. Carpenter      January 5, 1856
James W. Curtis           April 21, 1862
Amos B. Carpenter      October 31, 1862
Edwin L. Hovey          December 11, 1863
Amos B. Carpenter      August 25, 1864
Cosbi B. Carpenter      August 13, 1884
Cosbi B. Carpenter (Reappointed)    April 8, 1902
Mabel H. Carpenter       July 16, 1903 

Here is Amos Bugbee Carpenter, from Men of Vermont:

 

And here is the "piece of furniture" mentioned -- we are so grateful to the family for sharing these images with us:

 

The correspondent also shared this portrait of Ezra Carpenter, a son of Amos B. Carpenter and Cosbi Bowman Carpenter and husband of Mabel Hovey Carpenter, the last postmaster for this office.

 

Just for fun, here are many of the family members (you can find Ezra, can't you?) in a collage image from Amos B. Carpenter's own book, A Genealogical History of the Rehoboth Branch of the Carpenter Family in America ... (1898).

 

Arnold Waters, Lower Waterford Resident: Diamond Mines and Community Service

Arnold Waters, 1906-1985, photo from the 1985 Town Report, courtesy of Helen C. Pike

It's easy to look at the white houses and green shutters of Lower Waterford's "White Village" and think that the residents will all fit together, New Englanders of some generation and maybe even "kissing cousins."

But the reality of the White Village,  even from its days as an important stagecoach stop, is far different. One of the residents who left wonderful stories behind of his adventurous life was Arnold Waters, with his wife Betty and, later, subsequent wife Beth.

Long-time local resident and attorney Kate Piper wrote this about the couple, back in 2007:

Arnold E. Waters, Jr., graduated with a PhD in geology in 1933 from Johns Hopkins University. After graduation he joined the Anglo American group, a diamond mining company. He spent his career exploring parts of South Africa, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Indonesia, and Canada. After he retired in 1972, he and his wife, Betty, moved to the village of Lower Waterford where they purchased the house next to the Rabbit Hill Inn. Arnold was a beloved and active member of the community. He served as president of the board of the Fairbanks Museum and was later named a museum fellow. Arnold chaired the Waterford Planning Commission and served the Lower Waterford Congregational Church in many capacities. He was an avid gardener and prize-winning beekeeper who generously shared his knowledge and skills as well as his honey and produce. Betty (Elizabeth S.) Waters died in March 1977. In June 1983, Arnold married their close family friend from South Africa, Elizabeth (Beth) Hicks. When Arnold died on August 15, 1985, one of Waterford’s selectmen, lamenting his passing, described Arnold perfectly as “the cement that holds this community together.” 

Diamond mining?? Yes, indeed! The obituary written by David Lang for the Caledonian-Record said even more:

Thanks again to Helen C. Pike for this.

 

Years in the White Village meant that there are many other memories of Mr. Waters. Here is a reflection from Donna Rae Heath:

I first met Arnold Waters at Green Up Day at the Waterford Elementary School. I was assigned to the last remaining volunteer with a vehicle. That is how I picked up trash on a Saturday with a lanky retired geologist, both of us picking up highway garbage in his Mercedes Benz in the mid-1970s. I learned that he was still active as a geologist and a volunteer in the Waterford community. I was a farm girl recently graduated from Johnson State College after having to work thirteen years in low paying typist jobs before being able to afford college.

Later, I had been hired by the Essex County Conservation District through a one-year funded position to work on a USDA soil erosion project and administrative work for the district. Arnold was asked to be a speaker at the meeting of the district in Guildhall and offered to let me ride with him. When he picked me up in the Mercedes Benz, he opened the door for me.

When the I-93 highway construction was at the end of the planning stage and close to construction, I read some of the State’s paperwork and discovered in the Environmental Impact Statement that the access to my road, now called Walsh Rd., and the Hudson Rd. that enters Rt.18 by Stiles Pond was not to be saved. I discussed this with one of my former teachers from Johnson State College, and he gave me suggestions on what information to obtain to enter an appeal to the State. I obtained the accident rates for two other roads accessing my area versus
the intersection of Hudson Rd and Rt.18, the number of new houses built in the area, and the time for the St. Johnsbury Fire Department to arrive to my area. The access from Hudson Rd., to Rt. 18 was the safest. On my birthday evening in January, I walked the neighborhood and collected signatures to support the appeal. Only one neighbor refused.

I submitted the appeal with my research to the Vermont Transportation Agency and cc’d Arnold Waters as he was on the planning commission. Arnold called me and said the Transportation Agency had called him asking for information. Arnold promised to visit the Transportation Agency. He obtained a commitment from them to not close our access to Rt. 18 from Hudson Road, and we now have overpasses, and the road remains open.

Arnold had a face, somewhat reddish and windblown, like someone who was outdoors all the time. He was a man in his seventies, always running with a project or a job to do. My brother, Raymond, had a construction company, and Arnold had hired his crew to work on a new well for him. I remember my brother telling me how impressed he was when Arnold offered to collect tools or supplies from his house or garage. He ran down from the well site to the house and back again with whatever they needed.

Arnold Waters was a gentleman, always committed to his community, and never afraid to speak up even though he had a stutter or lisp, but always forceful in his beliefs. I try to follow Arnold’s rules, except speaking up, that’s still a little shaky.

Donna Rae Heath

Another time when memories of Mr. Waters came up was when the Waterford Historical Society hosted a "reunion" of people who owned, worked at, and for other reasons had vivid memories of the Rabbit Hill Inn, next door to the house where Arnold resided. Watch an engaging and often light-hearted video of this gathering, recorded by Donna Heath for the WHS, here.

And if you'd like to read something about Arnold Waters and the diamonds, check out The Geochemical News from January 2000 -- here's a good bit:

There are also mentions of the important role of Mr. Waters in the South African diamond mines in a 2018 conference report describing the Jwaneng diamond mine in the hands of De Beers -- Mr. Waters is decribed as consulting geologist for the famous diamond company, productively testing a theory on where to mine the gems.  

A memoir by Tom Molyneux also mentions Arnold Waters:

After a thirty-six hour journey by train across The Karoo I arrived in Johannesburg and went to the Anglo American offices at 44 and 45 Main Street. It was a Friday and I met Dr. Arnold Waters who was the Chief Geologist and a long term member of the famous Northern Rhodesian geological team of The Late Dr. Austin Bancroft. That team had been based in The Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) Copperbelt in the 1930s and they had great success in exploring for, and bringing huge copper mines to the production stage. This team was also legendary for its hard work, self-reliance, dedication and Spartan approach to field work.

After all that adventure, the most tangible sign that Arnold Waters ended up belonging to Lower Waterford is that when the village church was decommissioned a few years ago, historian and author Helen C. Pike already knew which pew had always been where Mr. Waters sat, along with his wife and their friends the Hird family -- number 12 -- and she made sure it was saved as a treasure of White Village history.

 

 

Railroad Fan or Fancier? Here's a New Vermont Opportunity!

The railroad has never run through Waterford. And of course, in an era when the railroad hosted most of our commerce, that was a drawback. Still, the town's villages linked up with stage routes, and later with the County Road and more ... 

But if you have felt an empty space where you'd like to have some railroad history, a Berlin Historical Society member sent this to the Waterford Historical Society: 

My interest in trains comes from my dad and his American Flyer collection and his love of the trains chugging down the tracks.  We also have the Montpelier Junction Station here in Berlin that I've done research on and there was also a station down in Riverton (West Berlin).

I belong to the Champlain Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (CVC-NRHS).  It's a wonderful group of people who share varying interests in trains. We have monthly meetings September through June in Essex Junction (also accessible online) which include sharing some current railroading information along with an interesting program. We have a fantastic website, much of the website is only available to our members.  Sometimes our members travel to train shows and plan other railfan trips.

 

Intrigued? Here's the group's flyer. And why not check out their website,  https://www.cvcnrhs.org.  

 

 

What Kind of Apples Grow Nearby? Mark Your Calendar!

The Waterford Historical Society announces:

 Stan Crane will present a program on various, ancient apples on Saturday,
September 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The program will take place in the barn on
Walsh Rd., in Waterford at Donna Heath’s place. Drinks and slices of apple pie or
tarts and cider donuts will be available. Contact Donna Heath for directions, 802-748-3314.

Waterford's Racing History Gets a New Milestone with McKenna Merchant

History is being made all the time. Waterford was home of the Northeastern Speedway in 1959 to 1966 and hosts a preserved monument to it today. Now the town's racer McKenna Merchant is collecting wins at White Mountain Motor Sports Park. See the Caledonian-Record article HERE.

And discover (or refresh) the story of the town's historic speedway HERE. 

Waterford's Stories: Summer Begins, 2025

Summer vacation has arrived! If you'd like a peek at the 2025-2026 Waterford School calendar, it's here. 

There will soon be more Waterford stories on the blog site. Meanwhile, here's the 1957 Town Report, as a reminder of when the town's district schools gave way to education for all in one building. At a time of challenges to education funding (again!), it's good to recall how significant this change was for our community. 

Farewell and God Bless, to Rosalie Vear

What a loss this town has felt with the September 1 passing of Rosalie Vear, whose creative and kind spirit brought so much to so many. With permission from her daughter Kate, we share pages from her memoir here, as she wrote about her years growing up in Waterford.

Also here, with her photo, is the beautifully written obituary that celebrates her life:

 

Rosalie T. (Rancour) Vear

Aug. 19, 1926 - Sept. 1, 2024

Anyone who was fortunate enough to know Rosalie T. (Rancour) Vear had the privilege of knowing a woman who was unequivocally selfless and kind. They also knew she had many passions including gardening, baking bread, and quilting (just to mention a few) and that she possessed a wonderful sense of humor and a remarkable artistic talent. She was also a great storyteller and wrote several books chronicling her life and family. At the age of 90, she wrote her first memoir, From Start to Finish. These are her words taken from the epilogue of that book, and they portray perfectly how truly thoughtful and loving she was:

“My life is like a tapestry filled with bright colors showing the happy times and the dark colors outlining the bright colors, depicting the sad times of my life. The contrast is what makes it beautiful. And my life has been truly beautiful. [The people I have deeply loved and lost] are the dark colors [woven into] my tapestry, [adding] a dimension, a beauty to my creation. I have dearly loved being the mother and grandmother of such an interesting and wonderful group of people. I wish I had worried less and laughed more. That I had trusted my instincts and forgotten about the experts.”

Rosalie married Donald Vear, the love of her life, who predeceased her in 1998. Together,they created and nurtured the “interesting and wonderful” (and let’s be honest and also add “fun and sometimes crazy”) group that was their family: William (Linda) Vear, Kathryn (Robert) McGill, Margaret (Michael) Hale, Donna (David) Coker, James Vear, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That family is forever indebted to her for setting an example of what a good human is and teaching the invaluable lessons of life that helped to shape them into the people they are today.

Rosalie felt so fortunate to start a second chapter and find happiness again when she reconnected with her old friend Frank Landry. They married and enjoyed nearly two wonderful decades together before Frank’s passing in 2019.

Rosalie died on September 1st, just two weeks after celebrating her 98th birthday with family and friends. At 98, she was still the same wonderful person she had been her whole life. If you want to learn about all the amazing things she did throughout her life, you can find her wonderful life story in her books.

Rosalie, your family is sending you off with love and gratitude. We will miss you, but we know we will see you again. Please hug and kiss everybody up there for us, especially Dad and your beautiful great-grandson Gunnar.

In lieu of flowers, please plant a flower in your own flower garden in memory of Rosalie.

[Calling hours were held at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 4 – 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury, Vt., with Fr. Lance Harlow officiating.]

And here, again with Kate's help, are two pages of from the manuscript of her writing about Upper Waterford and its changes:

 

Jonathan Ross, One of Waterford's Noted Residents (Chief Justice, Vermont Supreme Court)

When Waterford Began Its Kindergarten

These pages from 1970 give a good view of the issues at stake as Waterford's school expanded to include kindergarten. For today's readers, it may be surprising to learn that kindergartens weren't common in northeastern Vermont in the 1960s and early 1970s. Concord's collaboration in this presentation is also interesting, as this preceded the movement to tie together education across town lines.

Waterford's 1963 Cookbook -- Three Sample Pages

 

1970: The Year Waterford Voted on a Kindergarten

 

 

 

 

Farewell, Beryl Charlton, Former Rabbit Hill Innkeeper

 We are sad to pass along news of the death of long-time Rabbit Hill Inn innkeeper Beryl Charlton, as published in today's The Caledonian-Record. Enjoy Beryl and Eric in this video from 2018, beginning around minute 30.

 

Waterford, Vermont, Occupations in the 1800s With Settlement Notes

Eugenia Powers

Eugenia Powers wore many hats on behalf of Waterford, Vermont. Of all of them, her most significant may have been for her self-appointed historian role. Many town reports like the one shown here from 1965 included notes by Eugenia about people and buildings.

In this hot first couple of days of June 2023, I've typed up a file-card box of Eugenia's notes on local residents. Have fun browsing!

Presumed Eugenia Powers gray file box: OCCUPATIONS [typed by Beth Kanell, June 2, 2023; double line space indicates new file card; note that d can mean “died” or “daughter.”]

 

Artist

Jefferson C. Ensminger of Independence, Iowa, married Amanda Brown – His parents were E.M. Ensminger and June Miles

Joel Locke—b. Falmouth, Mc.—had a child born Wat. 1876

 

Blacksmiths

William. J. Morrison

Edwin Bickford—death 1883—age 34

Samuel Morrison—1874—married

C.H. Knapp—1874—married

 

Carpenters (See also Joiners)

Fred Bullock—1896 (on birth record)

Langdon Cummings—1871—married

 

Cloth Manufacturers—Fulling

 

Coopers

1878—Frank Carter—cooper—child born

1880—Fed Hunt—child born. He’s also a painter, q.v.

 

Doctors

Dr. Nathan Cole—from Church records his wife Polly Jameil[?] 8/15/1802

Morrison, Moses G.

Rowell, Richard F. d. 1872 of small pox age 85

Bugbee, Abel C.—1877—married in town, but lived in Derby

Ralph Bugbee—age 84—b. Ashford, Ct.

1869—Charles G. Cargill, physician, married ?? age 23

Physicians list from Vol I, p. 432-5, Hemenway

A. Kinne*

A. Farr

C. Farr

R. Bugbee, Jr.

A.C. Bugbee

Frank Bugbee

N.S. Goss

Wm. Benton

*graduate—however think all were????

 

 

Engineer

Albert Babcock—1872—married

 

Gunsmith

George Furby—died 1892, age 63-9-26-single

 

Hotel Owners—

Edwin Bowman—1887—child born LW [Lower Waterford]

Ozro B. Hurlbutt—d. 1870—suicide—LW, b. Hanover, N.H.

Hiram Hill—d.1874, age 54-1-12—of pneumonia, stage driver and hotel keeper

 

Jeweler—

Franklin R. Sargent‚—1874—married in Wat., resided in Stansted [sic]

 

Joiner—

Orange Chaplin of Wat.—1879—married

John H. Chandler—1872—married Emma C. Streeter dau. of. Timothy & Almira Streeter

Napoleon Chaboneau—of Littleton, N.H.—house joiner—married 1871

 

Justice

Eben Farnham 1816

 

Harvey Kinne—Childs p 378

            merchant

            town cleark—postmaster

Willard Kinne—obituary d. 12/4

            s. of Nathan and Elizabeth Kinne

                        came from Pomfret, Conn. in 1793

            error in farm—settled where Whittemore lives & then at Willis Person’s Cottage—

                        not Hal Peck place

            farmer, stock man, drover

                        about 700 acres

                        promoter of Cal. Co. Agric. Assoc.

 

Lawyers—list in Abby Hemenway I, p. 432-5, from article by Thomas A. Cutler

J.D. Stoddard

R.C. Benton

R.C. Benton Jr.*

Jacob Benton

A.H. Hadley

O.T. Brown

A.J. Hale

Jonathan Ross*

E. Cutler, Jr.*

A.P. Carpenter*

Luther Kidder

* means graduate

 

Lawyers

J.D. Stoddard

Frank C. Streeter—died 1878—age 25—son of Timothy & Almira Streeter—consumption

James B. Donnan Esq.—1868—married Martha J. Ross

 

Mail Carrier

Abel F. Carpenter—died 1889—b. 5-2-16 in Lyndon, parents Abel & Betsy (Smith) Carpenter

Austin E. Blodgett—marriage—1873

Fred George—(mail service_) 1889—a birth

Patrick Carr—dies age 60 of small pox—came from Ireland—d 1872

Hiram Hill—d. 1874—was stage driver and hotel keeper

 

Mason

George West—1886—stone mason—b. England

 

Mechanics

William Furby—1884—a birth record

George H. Thomas—1888—a birth record

H.E. Cheney—1873—death Bk.4

Fred H. Blodgett—Bk.5 1885 birth rec.

James W. Newton—1868—married

Albert W. Bowles—(machinist)—married—1869 married

1878—J.S. Mullikin—child born

1884—Henry Koepke—child born

 

Merchants

Hiram Parks—UW [Upper Waterford]

Ephraim Swett—1871—married

Azro D. Stoddard—Merchant at Wat.—died of consumption 1871—son of Norman & Almira Stoddard

1879—Charles Brown—had a meat market—a child born

 

Miller

George Holland—1887—death record, age 66, born in Ireland

 

Grist Mill Owner (Millers)

 

Miner

John N. Griffin—1883—a birth—was husband of Jennie Griffin

Ministry—List from Abbyu Hemenway I, p. 432-435, article by Thomas A. Cutler

W.D. Hadley*

Alfred Stevens*

Samuel Benton*

James H. Benton*

E.I. Carpenter*

Zenas Gos[s]*

Samuel Hurlburtt

Silas Gaskill

Philander Carpenter

Ebenezer Cutler*

*graduate

 

Ministry—Waterford men who were ministers in town or elsewhere

Erastus Carpenter

Prosper Davison

Preserved Davison (died)

Ebenezer Cutler

 

Ministers (preached in town)

Silas Davison

George Roger—1890

John E. Palmer—m. Newton – Kent 1818

Rev. Carlos Marsden

Rufus Cheney

Asa Carpenter

Thomas Hall

Rev. John E. Palmer—d.1872, age 90-1-5—of old age & pneumonia

 

Waterford’s Contribution to Cong’l Ministry

Vt. Congregationalism—p.253

dates are dates of life if known

! connection with Am. Board of Missions or other missionary organ.

Samuel Austin Benton 1807–1865

Erasmus Irving Carpenter 1808–1877

Amander Barker 1810–?

Alfred Stevens 1810–1893

Josaih [sic] Henry Benton 1816–1907

Zenas Goss ! 1832–1864

 

Painter—houses? machinery and sleighs??

Fred P. Hunt—1875—married Martha Buckman

 

 

Salesmen & Peddlers

1868—Henry A. Bowman—married

1877—Albert Davis, peddler—child born

 

Sawyers—Sawmills Owners

 

Shingle Mills

 

Shoemakers—See Leather

 

Soldiers of Waterford

see—

1812 Roster

1840 Census for Rev. Pensioners then in town—

F.R. Carpenter’s War Record for Civil War.

Revolutionary Roster

Roster War of the Rebellion

Spanish Am. Roster, etc.

Voting Lists and Tax Records for exemptions

 

Stone Cutter

George W. Smith—1890—a birth—Bk. 5

 

Surveyors

Harvey Holbrook, d. 1845, age 77 (Cem. St.)

 

Tailors & Dressmakers—

C.J. Cobb, d. 1878—tailor—died in Aug—age 70

 

Teachers—

 

Teamsters

Alden J. Hale—died 1868—age 19-3-26—in Boston of Typhoid Pneumonia—an express teamster, son of Jo [sic] Hale

 

Toll Bridge Tenders

 

Town Clerks From Hemenway I, p. 432-5

1793-5 Selah Howe

1706-1801 John Grow

1802-5 Sylvanus Hemingway

1806 Samuel Gaskill

1807-1816 Sylvanus Hemingway

1817-23 Jonah Carpenter

1824-41 Sylvanus Hemingway

1842-1857 Lucius Freeman

 

Wheel Wrights

Hiram Whipple—1894 (a birth, I guess)

Asa Hovey—married 1872—Mianda [sic] Goss for his 3rd wife

Albert Howe—1878—a child born

 

Wood workers—Sleighs, winnowing machines, et

 

[second half of file box, new alphabet]

 

People Mentioned Childs [in Child’s Gazetteer]

 

James Adams—Childs p 369

1st settler (traditional)

exact date not known

proprietors mtg held in Barnet in 1783

“was adjourned to J.A.’s in said Littleton.”

 

Samuel D. Astle—Child[s] p 377

s. of Joseph who served in Eng. army

b—Shipton, Canada, in 1836

came to Wat. in 1857

m. Harriet Phelps (d. of Anthony Phelps) in 1859

children—Helen, Ralph,  Sam Joe, Katie, Willie, Fred, Frank, Hattie

tanner & manufacturer of lumber

resides at village

 

George R. Barker, Childs p 379

s. of George I_

b 1815

m. Mary Mann in 1840

children Charlotte, Charles, Albert, Mary, Etta

lives on road 12

 

George T. Blancher, Childs p 379

s. of Wm

b. Lyndon 1833

m. Almira, d. of Cornelius Adams

served in war—wounded at Petersburg and died in 1964

wife farm on road 7

 

Ephraim Blodgett, Childs p 376

b. N.H. in 1815

came in 1836

children Ephraim A, Nelson (died in army), Volney B and Austin E., Louisa, Almira

Ephraim A lived on road 40

 

Edison Bowman, Childs p 379

s. of Willard & Tryphema

b. Littleton, N.H., 1843

m. Irene Richardson 1865

children Nellie, Eddie A, Willie R & Charles H.

manager of hotel at Lower Wat.

 

Frank W Brown, Childs p 376

b. Bethlehem 1845

m. Jennie Miller in 1868

selectman—

children—Celia, Edward M., Ruith E

loved in Petrie[?] homestead—road 46, corner 47

 

William Brown, Childs p 373

c. 1800 settled where Cushings are

s. Elisha -> s. Bradley -> s. Elisha W.

town clerk 20 yrs town records

 

Alpheus Bugbee, Childls p 372

from Woodstock, Conn—1797

where Mrs. George S. Russell lives

 

Alonzo Carpenter

Chief Justice in N.H.

s Isaiah Carpenter

 

Isaiah Carpenter, Childs p 375

descendant of Wm. Carpenter who came to Am. in 1638

came to town in 1808

located on Amos Carpenter place

d. Eliza married Judge Johnathan [sic] Ross

Amos m. Cosbie Parker of Concord—Amos was assistant postmaster at West Waterford

 

FRC—dates of life—p155 Jill Cor

Influences on him—NNE

Improved Agri. Method—HC of NEE p 173

His financing—farmers’ club

 

FRC diaries with Social Ferment

Puritan Counter Reformation

Temperance Crusade

Anti-Masonry

Anti-Slavery & Religion

Anti-Slavery & Politics

Equal & Exact Justice for ALL

Social Architects

 

His wife—as prod of past—

His Children as product of his age

Himself as versatile—his many occupations

What was he chief of?

What did he father?

blacksmith & forge man

judge & lawyer

mortician

agriculturist as well as farmer

architect

builder

inventor

 

Deacon Perley Church, Childs p 371

from Mansfield, Conn. about 1795

located on HC Davison place (Mary Petersons)

war record—— ?

 

Samuel Church, Childs p 370

youngest son of Deacon Perley

m. Lucina Felch

5 children (Sam. C., Lorena, Lyman B., Allen J & Celia A (Mrs SB Horr

family choir—were Welsh Extraction SRP

 

James Curtis, Childs p 378

s. of Amos

a shoemaker

b Morgan, Vt. in 1833

in Civil War—

on road 37

 

Allason[?] Daniels, Childs p 378

s. of Hiram

m. Lucia McLacklin in Peacham in 1882

d. Bertha May b 1885

on road 15

 

Rev. Silas Davison, Childs p 371-2, SRP

b. Hartland, Vt. in 1766

m. Persis Rice 1790

in town—1796

settled on Passumpsic Mt.

grson Claudius m. Rebekah Wright—d. of Capt. Walter—her brothers had cabinet shop in St. J. C. [St. Johnsbury Center]

specimens of furniture in home of Arnold W. Powers

 

Aaron Freeman, Childs p 372

b.  of Elizah & Arad, b. Norwich Vt 1784

to Waterford with father in 1800

settled at Bean Bors.

in 1887—farm occupied by Dennis May who m. Caroline d. of Aaron

 

Arad Freeman, Childs p 372

from Hanover, N.H. in 1800

settled where Rollo Wright, Sr, lives

Arad settled on L D Freeman place

s. Lucius S. b 1812—town cleark for 40 yers

Lucius son was Lorenzo

Olive Hovey Freeman b 1799 in Wat Birth Records but not necessarily born in town

 

Elijah Freeman

brother of Arad & Aaron

settled on Williams

d Rowena m. John Sanborn

J. Sanborn is L. D. Williams’ grandfather

 

Abel Goss, Childs 372

settled on Goss place (Allports.) 1792

his son, Capt. Abel, gave school ground for L. W. [Lower Waterford] school

 

Richardson B. Graves, Childs p 378

b Athol, Mass in 1775

m. Lovina Briadfor 1801

located near Concord Corners 1796

his grandson— Herbert K—came to Water. 1881

s. died in infancy

 

Eli Green, Childs p 372

1799—

m Lucinda Graves

 

Asa Grow & Brothers, CEH [C.E. Harris book] p 11

claimed to own all land in Wat. bordering Conn.—

sold tp settlers & took their money— drawback to young men who had begun to clear land— most of them kept land & paid for it—

Grow built two-story house— about command[?] folks— Mrs. Sawyer said all puckered up with pride    about 1800

Pucker St. Song-  by Timothy Hazeltine who worked for James Morse blacksmith about 1825, song p 12-18

 

George Ide, Childs p 376

s. of Joseph & Almira Ide— born in town in 1828

a tanner

m. Mary Furby in 1861 (she died 1867)

bought Richardson saw mill in 1865

(evidently George & Joseph/son & father/in business together)

 

Charles D Harris, Childs p 378

b. Danville Vt., in 1842

war vet—

m. Isabella Kellogg (d. of Independent)

children—Charles E, Nellie, Bertha May b 1878

lives on road 36

 

Amasa Hastings, Child[s] p. 379-380

b. Ashburnham, Mass—

came to Wat. 1800

pioneer of West Wat.

settled in wilderness a mile from neighbors

went to claim by marked trees—

log cabin several years

m. Anna Brown—story about Mrs. Brown & the bear in the corn patch (green corn & beans for dinner)

lived there until old age— sold to s. Moses & moved to a small farm.

12 children—10 lived to adulthood

in 1887—two survived

Amasa Jr. then in St J—

Jefferson H— then in Newark [Vt]

 

 

Josaiah Hastings, Childs p 374

b. Westmoreland, N.H. in 1786

came here in 1807—located road 41

m. Mary Packard

descendant— Stephen J. Hastings b. 1850, attended Dartmouth, married Althea Carpenter

(in a triple wedding— SRP)

Stephen J was town rep in 1882 also selectman

 

Sylvanus Hemingway, Childs p. 371

from Royalston, Mass, c. 1795 with sons Laban & Cyrus.

built log houses east of Luther Hemingway’s (Young’s)

Syl. was Town C.

 

Cyrus T. Hill,  Childs p 375

f. of Willard Hill b 1844

-> Guy Hill

on road 23

 

Senicon Hill, Childs p 375

from Walpole, N.H., about 1808

kept tavern until 1810

è Ambrose -> Charles T. lived on homestead, road 3 -> George, Lottie, etc.

 

Stewart B Horr, Childs p 377

b. in Maine 1846

Civil War— Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg

m. Celia Church, d. of Samuel

live on road 46

 

Asa Hovey, Childs p 374

from Hampton, Conn., in 1803

located on Kidder farm (in 1881 owned by Frank Cutler)

s William m. Lydia Richardson

è Emory b 1841 m Emily Cushman

è Guy W

Emory settled on road 40, corner 41

 

Benjamin Hutchinson, Childs p 373

descendant of Richard Hutchinson who came to Am. in 1634

came to Wat. from Royalston, Mass, in 1801

Benajah (grandson) b 1835—living in town in 1887

 

Niles Johnson, Childs p 376

b. Lunenburg, Vt., in 1843

came to town in 1865

d. Flora Wallace b. 1869

 

George C. Lawrence, Childs p 378

s. of Daniel

b. in Danville 1813

m Hannah Barkers in 1838

d Hattie —Addie (d)

[Hattie] m L P Winslow

è Cora m Homer Brewster

lived on road 12

 

Moses Ladd, Childs p 375

s of Thyng & Elizabeth Ladd

b in Salsibury, N.H., in 1812

came to Wat. in 1814

m. Hannah Carr

-> Orange S. b 1825

-> Milo E.

-> Orange S – now in St. J. Center

where did Thyng & Moses live?

 

John Lee

b. Moultonborough, N.H. in 177 [sic]

settled in Wat. in 1801

son Nathaniel Lee bought Lee farm 1841 WLR [Waterford Land Records]

 

Dr. William McDale

who was he?

Dr. Rowell studied under him

 

Thomas Mason, Childs p 377

b. in Ireland 1814-

came to Am at 19 (1833)

m. Jane Johnson

children—George H., Ellen, Martha, Emily, John,  Thomas, Albert

prosperous farmer (dairying)

in 1853 bought Daniel Havens farm road 38

 

George Morrison, Childs p 377

s of George & b. of Samuel

b. Ireland 1839

came to Am at 16—1855

in Civil War (Andersonville prison)

m. Catherine Morrison in 1870

children—Eliza, Samuel, William G, & Harvey B

[Eliza] m George Ballou

lives road 44

 

Samuel Morrison, Childs p 377

son of George

b. in Ireland 1847

came to Am. 1864

blacksmith

located in W. 1868

m. Elocia Thurber (d. of Jehiel Thurber)

children— Mary E(dith), Charles, Harry A, Clarence A, Gertrude (d. inf.), Samuel M.

lived in Lower Wat.

 

William S. Morgan, Childs p 370

1st male born in town

m. Clarissa Church d of Deacon Perley

 

Seth Moulton, Childs p 376

b. Lyman, N.H., in 1833

came in 1845 with his father Alpheus

m. Sarah Colby of Danville in 1867—

has been selectman & other offices

lives on farm easterly part of village

 

Josiah Newton, Childs p 377

came to town 1861

road 21

 

Judge Ezra Parks, Childs p 378

s. of Eli

b. Passumpsic in 1821

mem. of legislature 1870-71

assistant county judge

dealer in stock, produce

lived 1 mile north of Passumpsic village

 

Nathan Pike from Royalton Mass Age 57

FH [Farmers Herald] 8/26/29- Obituary

Dennison Pike—agent for Fairbanks plows

Brigham Pike—Fire Ins. Agent in Concord

5/12/30 marriage of Jacob Ide and Ladoska Knights reporte

10/6/30—Nathan Pike a trustee for Wat.H.S.

 

Daniel & Nathan Pike, Childs p 369, 370

1st settlers in eastern part of town

1792— from Royalston, Mass – brought yoke of oxen, cleared land & sowed wheat, returned to Royalston

1793—Daniel & sons Luther & Nathan come in spring

1793— fall Daniel moved his wife & twin d. Sally & Polly to town

            cabin built on S B Horr farm, SG Willson lot on Concord line

 

 

Nathaniel J. Reed, Childs p 379

s. of Stephen

b. Kirby 1839

served in war—

m. Lizzie, d. of Moses Lewis

d Lizzie Belle

blacksmith & wheelwright

on road 50

 

Rufus W Remick, Childs p 379

s. of Wm. B-

b- 1855

m. Mary A Greeley in 1875

children—Harry E, Mabel D, Homer W

farmer

lives road 42, corner 43

 

Johnathan [sic] Ross—brother of Royal M. settled R. Powers

son of Royal & grandson of Johnathan

Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Vt

U.S. Senator

 

Johnathan [sic] Ross, p 371 Childs

1794- located on road 47

grandfather of Charles Ross (s. of Abraham), R. C. Morrison place

 

Hon. Johnathan Ross, Child p 80-83

account of Judge Ross’s life

b April 30, 1826

 

Royal Ross- p 370 Childs

son of Johnathan Ross

p 371—married Eliza Mason

Royal had to promise her minister father that he would take Eliza to church every Sunday. Royal was an atheist- Father did not approve marriage but wanted promise. R. kept promise. SRR

their son Royal M.

 

Dr. Richard F. Rowell, Childs p 373

came to town at early date

studied with Dr. Wm. McDale.

began practice in 1825

m. Melinda Mullin 1826

6 sons – 6. daughters

4 sons served in Civil War

Daniel (son) b 1842- lived in village 1889

impressive war record

 

John Sanborn, Childs p 379

s. of John—

b. Kirby 1830

M. 3 times

(1) Ellen Hall—John H. & Jennie L. (Mrs. E. F. Williams in Concord)

(2) Susan Furman[?]—d. month after marriage

(3) Rowena W Freeman 1865

lives on road 18

 

John Stiles, Childs p 374

came from Keene, N.H., soon after 1800

m. Annie, d. of Th. Hill, in 1802

built sawmill at foot of Stiles Pond

last Stiles in town?

 

Rev. Alfred Stevens D. D. —

b. Wat – 1810

schooling Concord, Peacham Acad., Meriden N.H.

Portsmouth Coll. (ent. 1835 – age 26)

grad. Andover Sem. 1842 (age 32 ent. ministry)

pastor of Congo. Church, Westminster West, Vt. from 1842 – 1889 & pastor emeritus until death 1893

always a member of the Low. Wat. Congo. –

honorary degree from Dartmouth 1872—

called “Father Stevens”

 

Jesse Stoddard, Childs p 373

from Chesterfield, N.H., c. 1800, settled on J. Campbell’s place

 

 

George West, Childs p 377

s. of Richard

b. Summersetshire [sic], Eng. in 1835

came to Am. 1854

came to Wat. 1862

son— Herbert West

 

Milo Williams, Childs p 379

s. of Warner

b. Concord 1838

m. Jennie d of Ansel Hoadley 1867

children Bertha Jennie & Lula Nellie

farmer

road 10

 

Thaddeus B. Wheeler, Childs p 376

son of George W.

b in Littleton, N.H., in 1820

came to town 1870

on road 15

 

Charles White, Child[s] p 377

b. Sheffield – 1859

bought John Houghton farm in 1885

on road 46

 

John & Joseph Woods, p 370 Childs

1784-85 – settled on Passumpsic R.

1st person born in town. Polly Woods, d. of Joseph W.

 

James Works, Childs p 376

b. in Westmoreland, N.H. in 1787

came to town in 1816 (m. Almira Aldrich

2 sons & 3 d

1 son  Barton b 1829 – in Civil War –

occupied homestead in 1887 (father oldest man in town at time)

 

[cards at end list pages of men included in Successful Vermonters by Wm. H. Jeffrey, 1904]

 

Edward Payson Lee 213, Herbert King Graves 215, Richardson Graves, Nathan J. Graves, Edward R. Godd 216, Abel. Goss, Abel B Goss, Charles D. Harris 217, Amory E. Hovey 217, Frank W. Hastings 218, Stephen J. Hastings 218, Elisha W. Brown 219, Volney Blodgett 220, Frank W. Brown 221, Hiram M. Parks 222, Frederick A. Cross 222, Stuart R. Hoor 223, Eddie Bowman 223, Tobias H Lyster 224, Ezra Parker Carpenter 225, Ezra Parks 225 Francis Halley Shepherd 229, Niles G. Johnson.